Officials in New Mexico issued mandatory evacuations due to heavy rain and flash flood warnings, with shelters available for displaced residents.
The National Weather Service declared a flash flood emergency from Friday night into early Saturday for areas including Las Vegas and communities near Albuquerque.
By late Friday, up to 2 inches of rain had already fallen, with an additional 1.5 inches expected overnight, causing flash flooding and road closures in Las Vegas.
The Las Vegas city government announced mandatory evacuations in certain parts of the city, setting up shelters on the west and east sides for displaced residents.
Residents were asked to conserve water and were assured that rumors of broken water dams were false.
New Mexico also faced devastating wildfires that resulted in casualties and destruction of over 1,400 structures. FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell and Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham planned to survey the damage on Saturday.
Related: Raging wildfires push New Mexico residents and animals to neighboring shelters
